Histology of endocrine pancreas of large white Yorkshire pigs (Sus Scrofa)

Abstract

The present study was carried out to reveal the histomorphological features of endocrine pancreas in large white Yorkshire pigs. The Pancreas of large white Yorkshire pigs consisted of splenic, duodenal and connecting lobes. The pancreas was covered by connective tissue capsule and from which interlobular and intersublobular septa divided the gland into lobules and sublobules. Each sublobule consisted of exocrine pancreatic acini and endocrine islets of Langerhans. The islets of Langerhans appeared as lightly stained clusters among darkly stained pancreatic acini. Variable sized and shaped islets of Langerhans were found in all the three pancreatic lobes. Islets of Langerhans consisted of alpha, beta and delta cells. Each pancreatic islet was found surrounded by fine reticular fibres. In chrome alum haematoxylin phloxine staining, the alpha cells appeared red, beta cells blue and delta cells as pink. The number of islets per lobule was higher in splenic lobe of pancreas of young pigs than adult.